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Surprise! Thanksgiving dinner costs more this year

A whole, uncooked turkey cost about 29 cents per pound more this year compared to 2012, according to the LSU AgCenter's annual survey. It was the biggest contributor to the overall increase in the cost of the average Louisiana family's Thanksgiving meal.

Published: Monday, November 19, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, November 19, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.

Louisiana residents will spend about 13 percent more for a home-cooked Thanksgiving meal this year compared to last, a survey shows.

Facts

Money-saving tips

The LSU AgCenter offers these tips for saving money when shopping for your Thanksgiving meal —or anytime:- Use a list and minimize the number of trips to the store.- Shop alone and avoid going to the store just before a meal.- Check store ads for deals.- Use coupons.- Purchase generic or store brands when practical.- Remember that items placed at eye level on shelves are often more expensive.- Buy fruit, vegetables and fresh seafood in season.- Purchase fresh, unpeeled, unwashed, unpackaged vegetables.- Determine the cost per serving when selecting meats.- Check unit pricing.- Avoid expensive single servings and snack packs.

Dinner for 10 will cost Louisiana residents an average of $44.35, the LSU AgCenter says.

“That's an increase of $5.16 from last year's Baton Rouge average of $39.19 ­— or an increase of 13.2 percent,” AgCenter family economist Jeanette Tucker said in a news release.

The Louisiana survey is based on an American Farm Bureau Federation shopping list that includes turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a relish tray of carrots and celery, pumpkin pie with whipped cream and beverages of coffee and milk, all in quantities sufficient to serve a group of 10.

The cost of a 16-pound turkey, at $18.45, or roughly $1.15 per pound, reflects an increase of 29 cents per pound or a total increase of $4.58 per whole turkey.

“This is the largest contributor to the overall increase in the cost of the 2012 Thanksgiving dinner,” Tucker said, adding that the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture numbers show that prices at the farm level for turkey are up about 5 percent in 2012 from 2011.

“This is likely a function of the much higher grain prices we have seen primarily as a result of the drought in 2012. The higher grain prices have definitely increased the costs of production for raising livestock, and it may be getting reflected in higher animal prices” said Kurt Guidry, LSU AgCenter agricultural economist.

Fuel costs are about 3.5 percent higher than last year, which is also likely reflected in the higher food prices, he said.

<p>Louisiana residents will spend about 13 percent more for a home-cooked Thanksgiving meal this year compared to last, a survey shows.</p><p>Dinner for 10 will cost Louisiana residents an average of $44.35, the LSU AgCenter says.</p><p>“That's an increase of $5.16 from last year's Baton Rouge average of $39.19 ­— or an increase of 13.2 percent,” AgCenter family economist Jeanette Tucker said in a news release.</p><p>The Louisiana survey is based on an American Farm Bureau Federation shopping list that includes turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a relish tray of carrots and celery, pumpkin pie with whipped cream and beverages of coffee and milk, all in quantities sufficient to serve a group of 10.</p><p>The cost of a 16-pound turkey, at $18.45, or roughly $1.15 per pound, reflects an increase of 29 cents per pound or a total increase of $4.58 per whole turkey.</p><p>“This is the largest contributor to the overall increase in the cost of the 2012 Thanksgiving dinner,” Tucker said, adding that the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture numbers show that prices at the farm level for turkey are up about 5 percent in 2012 from 2011.</p><p>“This is likely a function of the much higher grain prices we have seen primarily as a result of the drought in 2012. The higher grain prices have definitely increased the costs of production for raising livestock, and it may be getting reflected in higher animal prices” said Kurt Guidry, LSU AgCenter agricultural economist.</p><p>Fuel costs are about 3.5 percent higher than last year, which is also likely reflected in the higher food prices, he said.</p><p>Other items showing a price increase this year include one gallon of whole milk, $4.54 (up 11 cents); 30-ounce pumpkin pie mix, $2.84 (up 15 cents); 3 pounds of sweet potatoes, $2.86 (up 20 cents); and 12 ounces of cubed stuffing mix, $2.15 (up 79 cents).</p><p>Five items show a price decrease, including a 12-ounce bag of fresh cranberries, $2.39 (down 11 cents); 12-ounce brown and serve rolls, $2.22 (down 13 cents); 16-ounce frozen green peas, $1.50 (down 32 cents); 8 ounces of whipping cream, $1.62 (down 15 cents); and two 9-inch pie shells, $1.92 (down 37 cents).</p><p>The survey was conducted in three Baton Rouge stores Nov. 5-7.</p>